Scotland's Referendum 2014

[Compo72]

I'm English , my view is good luck if they vote for independence
Though think it won't happen when all things considered

Be interesting who would bail royal bank of Scotland out if independence came

There is a much difference between north n south England than England Scotland .




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[Bill HH]

There is already talk of border post due to different immigration policies.

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Scots hiding in lorries? Or English men going the other way, the mind boggles.

[Potstubsdustbins]

We are trying to slow immigration down without much success I grant you. As posted above AS has an open door policy.

[rary]

The reference to staying in Europe highlights one of the problems for Scotland come 2015 if it is a conservative gov. there will be a referendum on whither to stay in the E.U. even if Scotland wants to stay in it will be England that decides if we will or not, and as I stay in one of the highest unemployment areas in Britain and where a lot of jobs have been lost as work moved out of the country I can understand why some people will vote yes as they feel that they have nothing to lose by separating, also please remember that it is not Alex Salmond that people are voting for there is no guarantee that the SNP would govern if there is independence in fact a number of people would leave the party to go for other political persuasions

[Jay22]

As I said before I am undecided on this at the moment but as my birth certificate and passport both say I was born in Great Britain, and that I am a British Citizen, I will always be British no matter what happens!

[rary]

Jay22 I would not try to persuade you one way or the other each person must make the choice that they believe is the right one not just for them but for the future, as they see it, my wife believes differently from me but I would not ask her to vote differently,(I just pray she sees sense before the vote)

[Martin H]

As a resident of south-east of England I can't see that Mr Salmond represents much of an improvement over the current despicable crew. But I'm a long way away. It surely won't affect Essex much if Scotland left, we'd just have to get used to being in "The United Kingdom of England, Wales and Northern Ireland".

Please choose wisely, Scotland. The result will have a significant impact on future generations.

[Vince G]

Just found this - interesting:

The Northern Isles & Western Isles - If the Scottish vote "yes" on their upcoming referendum, it has been suggested that the Northern Isles could pursue a campaign for independence or to remain part of the United Kingdom as a British Overseas Terrority like Gibraltar. The same also applies to the Western Isles who prefer Westminster (the British parliament) over Holyrood (the Scottish parliament). Some have called for the referendum to be held on 25 September 2014 - one week after the Scottish independence referendum. This could also include other Scottish Isles such as Arran (North Ayrshire), who are noted as being Unionist.

[Vince G]

Someone mentioned earlier about future referendums if the SNP don't get the answer they want this time around.

Quebec is looking likely to have its 3rd referendum on secession from Canada in the next year or so, depending on how the French speaking parties get on the general election. It's the 3rd referendum since 1980 and it is very closely fought. The last time (in 1990) it was 49.5% YES and 50.5% NO. So they are getting closer, but even if 50% plus vote for it next time, you are effectively disenfranchising half the new country immediately.

[Thelma Sanders]

it will be England that decides if we will or not,

England - on its own - decides nothing!

Parliament decides, and Scottish mps get to vote the same as all the mps from other parts of the UK,

At least Scotland can decide about charges for higher education and health services etc.
we can't

[Jay22]

I agree. I think if we stay together that England should have its own devolved Parliament. Totally unfair that Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish MP's get to vote on things which relate to England only!

[susieq100]

The comments on this thread have been really interesting, calm and very measured. It would sadden me immensely if Scotland were to vote to leave the Union. Scots have contributed so much to what makes Great Britain great.

I work in a school in the Midlands - I have a tutor group of 14 year olds and we were discussing this one morning during registration (we have "What's in the News?") as a topic twice a week. One lad, not renowned for his academic ability, said "I don't get it Miss, all those Scottish people who hate the English are just holding a grudge for what happened hundreds of years ago, they should get over it! I don't hate the Scottish." I did try to counter his argument by putting the case for Scottish independence but I have to say, I did wonder if he wasn't at least partly right.

[Nicos]

There are historical grudges all over the world...even with neighbours and families.

I'd like to think politically that people have moved on from that when making a huge decision as whether or not to go it alone.
Sometimes it's easier just to say 'better the Devil you know'.

I'm really glad I don't have to make the decision...I just hope there is a massive turn out so whatever is decided is in fact what the majority of the population want.

No idea who said this to me once, but they said 'if you don't vote then you lose the right to complain'
Interesting.

[bearded bloke]

Personally I think it would be a great shame if Scotland was no longer part of the UK,but that is a decision that only the Scots can make.
Another interesting to read thread,thank you all for raising so many valid points (some obvious,some not so) in a calm & rational manner,whatever the eventual outcome I would hope that we as individuals & as a community will give our northerly neighbours full support & recognition,because at the end of the day whether in or out of the UK they are still our neighbours.

[rary]

The comments on this thread have been really interesting, calm and very measured. It would sadden me immensely if Scotland were to vote to leave the Union. Scots have contributed so much to what makes Great Britain great.

"I don't get it Miss, all those Scottish people who hate the English are just holding a grudge for what happened hundreds of years ago, they should get over it! I don't hate the Scottish." I did try to counter his argument by putting the case for Scottish independence but I have to say, I did wonder if he wasn't at least partly right.

I was not going to make any other comment on this thread but I feel that I must give how I feel about the above.
I know that there is some anti English feeling with some people just as there is anti Scottish feelings in other areas of Britain, but the quote above highlights "things that happened hundreds of years ago" the amalgamation of the parliaments happened three hundred years ago and yet there are still different laws for the different countries that make up Britain, personaly I would rather see one country of Great Britain, but as that has not happened in the past three hundred years I can`t see it happening in the future, and no I don`t have any grudge, a persons place of birth dose not make them good or bad it is how they treat or view other people that makes the difference.